Emergency sign device

ABSTRACT

A device capable of being mounted on a horizontal surface of a motor vehicle includes a vertical support for exhibiting interchangeable emergency signs, the support having a leg member mounted thereon for movement into a support stabilizing position about a vertical axis. The signs are slid into place along tracks each having constricted openings for preventing the sign from inadvertently sliding outwardly therefrom.

O United States Patent 1191 1111 3, Davis Dec. 9, 1975 EMERGENCY SIGN DEVICE 2,622,357 12/1952 Sprung 40/64 R x 1 5%2'231 12/122: 112211---- .....;;;;;;-1171;; s: Dothan, Ala. 36301 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] 1974 1,502,729 10/1967 France 40/125 0 [21] Appl. No.: 497,110

Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerJohn F. Pitrelli [52] US. Cl 40/129 C; 40/l7;44)(;/l6245ll1 i Attorney Agent or Firm watson, Cole Grindle & 51 1m. (:1. G09F 21/04 Watson [58] Field of Search 40/64 R, 65, 129 C, l40,

40/125 C, 125 H, 125 N, I25 R, 202, 209, [57] CT 156 17 18 A device capable of being mounted on a horizontal surface of a motor vehicle includes a vertical support 1561 CM $3?iifii ffiiiifififi 11212691129222: UNITED STATES PATENTS movement into a support stabilizing position about a 1,668,378 5/1928 Pickett 40/64 R ertical axis The Signs are into place along tracks Hennessey each having constricted openings for preventing the 2:555:706 H1951 40/209 sign from inadvertently shdmg'outwardly therefrom. 2,581,762 1/1952 Hesse 40 17 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 3,924,344

EMERGENCY SIGN DEVICE This invention relates generally to a sign support and more particularly to such a support capable of being easily and effectively mounted on a horizontal surface of a motor vehicle for exhibiting emergency signs.

As described in my related co-pending application Ser. No. 489,766, filed July 18, I974 as a continuation of US. Ser. No. 352,685, filed Apr. 19, 1973, now abandoned, and entitled EMERGENCY SIGN DE- VICE, the motorist who is stopped at the roadside for any number of reasons in an emergency is apt to remain stranded for extended periods of time before assistance is rendered by passerby motorists. The stranded motorist may be out of gas or may require a replacement tire or may even require the services of a wrecker or a garageman due to vehicle breakdown. The passerby motorist is, however, quite reluctant to stop to offer his assistance, even with the best of intentions, for fear of his own safety. The helpful motorist may also expose himself to danger in the course of stopping. It would therefore be to the stranded motorists advantage if he could clearly and effectively communicate the condition of his plight to passerby motorists in terms of requesting that gas be sent, a garageman be contacted, or the like. It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide an emergency sign carrying device which can easily be stored in a motor vehicle and which can be quickly mounted on an outer horizontal surface thereof for exhibiting emergency signs of all types.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which includes a vertical support for the signs, the support having a leg member mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a vertical axis from a position lying within the plane of the support member to a position extending outwardly of opposite sides thereof for stabilizing same when in place. Tracks are provided on the sign support to facilitate quick and easy insertion of the signs, and abutment walls are located at the lower ends of each track opening to prevent the signs from inadvertently sliding outwardly therefrom. Moreover, suction cups are provided on the leg member as well as on the lower edge of the sign support for securely mounting the emergency sign device in place.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a motor vehicle showing the device of the invention as mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sign carrying device of the invention shown partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partial end view of the device at the open track end thereof taken at line 44 of FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, a motor vehicle M is shown in FIG. 1 for purposes ofillustrating the manner in which the emergency sign device of the invention is mounted in place as for example on front hood 11 of the motor vehicle. Of course, the device can be similarly mounted on trunk lid 12 as shown in phantom outline in FIG. 1, and can even be mounted on roof top 13 of the motor vehicle if desired.

The emergency sign carrying device 10 of the present invention is clearly shown in FIG. 2 as comprising a flat upstanding sign support member 14 having upper and lower horizontal tracks 15 and 16 for the reception of various types of sign plates or cards '17 which may be slid into the tracks through track openings 18 and 19 (FIG. 4). As seen in FIG. 3,v each track is comprised of upper and lower inwardly facing channels such as 21 and 22 for upper track 15, and such as channels 23 and 24 for lower track 16. Each of these channels is horizontal and in parallel relationship to one another, the tracks being closed at one end by means of a plate member 25 so as to prevent the cards or signs 17 from moving outwardly of the tracks at that end. Also, openings 18 and 19 of the tracks at their opposite ends are slightly constricted so as to prevent the signs from inadvertently sliding outwardly of the tracks after being slid into place. These openings are constricted by means of a short abutment wall 26 spanning each opening at the lower end thereof as shown in FIG. 4. The vertical height of each card 17 is slightly less than the vertical distance between the top edge of wall 26 and the upper edge of the opening so as to permit the cards to be inserted through the opening and fully into the tracks whereafter they may be simply lowered under their own weight to lie behind abutment wall 26. Therefore, any possibility of the signs sliding outwardly of their tracks when the device is either in a stored position or in the assembled position of FIG. 1, is substantially avoided.

Sign device 10 further comprises an elongated leg member 27 mounted at the lower edge of support member 14 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. FIG. 3 shows the leg member so mounted in place as by means of a self-tapping screw 28 threadedly engaged with the side walls of an elongated screw trough 29. This screw trough extends along the entire length of the support member at its lower edge 31. Accordingly, the screw may be tapped in place at any desirable location along the trough. Also, leg member 27 is mounted in place between its opposite ends so that, when moved into its position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it extends outwardly of opposite sides of support member 14.

Conventional suction cups 32 are mounted in place to the leg member near opposite ends thereof, and a similar suction cup 33 is tapped into trough 29 by means of a screw (not shown) along any desired location thereof. Accordingly, the device may be securely mounted in place on a horizontal surface of the motor vehicle with the use of these suction cups.

In operation, the sign device may be stored in the trunk of the vehicle with any number of signs positioned within tracks 15 and 16, the leg member being rotated into its positions within the same plane as support member 14 in such a stored condition, as shown in phantom outline in FIG. 2. When the need arises, the sign device may be mounted in place on a horizontal surface of the motor vehicle as leg member 27 is rotated to its position of FIGS. 2 and 3 extending outwardly of opposite sides of member 14, and suction cups 32, 33 pressed into place for securely holding the device 10 in its position of FIG. 1. The message therefore communicated by the stranded motorist is made clearly and effectively and in a simple manner by means of a device which is easily constructed, easy to handle and store, and is highly economical.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are made possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A device capable of being mounted on a horizontal surface of a motor vehicle for exhibiting emergency signs, comprising a flat and elongated upstanding support member for the signs, said support member including at least one pair of elongated open channels facing inwardly toward one another along which the signs may be slid into place, said member further including an imperforate end plate at one end thereof extending across said channels, said member also including an end plate at the opposite end thereof extending across said channels and covering an end of a lower one of said channels for preventing the signs from inadvertently sliding outwardly of said channels, said opposite end plate having an opening therein through which the signs may be inserted, said member further including 4 an elongated screw trough disposed along a lower edge thereof, and an elongated leg member mounted between its opposite ends to said lower edge for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular thereto by means of a threaded fastener extending through said leg member and threadedly engaging said screw trough, said leg member being pivotable between a position of non-use lying in the plane of said support member and a position of use extending outwardly of opposite sides of said support member, said leg member having a length not greater than the length of said support member, and said fastener being so disposed relative to said leg member opposite ends and relative to said ends of said support member as to permit said leg member to be pivoted into its position of non-use without extending outwardly of said end plates of said support member, and suction cups being mounted to said support member at said lower edge thereof and to said leg member at said opposite ends thereof. 

1. A device capable of being mounted on a horizontal surface of a motor vehicle for exhibiting emergency signs, comprising a flat and elongated upstanding support member for the signs, said support member including at least one pair of elongated open channels facing inwardly toward one another along which the signs may be slid into place, said member further including an imperforate end plate at one end thereof extending across said channels, said member also including an end plate at the opposite end thereof extending across said channels and covering an end of a lower one of said channels for preventing the signs from inadvertently sliding outwardly of said channels, said opposite end plate having an opening therein through which the signs may be inserted, said member further including an elongated screw trough disposed along a lower edge thereof, and an elongated leg member mounted between its opposite ends to said lower edge for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular thereto by means of a threaded fastener extending through said leg member and threadedly engaging said screw trough, said leg member being pivotable between a position of non-use lying in the plane of said support member and a position of use extending outwardly of opposite sides of said support member, said leg member having a length not greater than the length of said support member, and said fastener being so disposed relative to said leg member opposite ends and relative to said ends of said support member as to permit said leg member to be pivoted into its position of nonuse without extending outwardly of said end plates of said support member, and suction cups being mounted to said support member at said lower edge thereof and to said leg member at said opposite ends thereof. 